Artificial limb



0. E. WOBMAN.

ARTIFICIAL LIMB.

APPLICATION FILED ocr. 21. 1913.

1,343,297; PafcentedJune15,1920. I... '2 SHEETS-SHEETI. v

fmremor:

Oscar E. Worman.

hisl A fforneys.

0. E. WORMAN.

ARTIFICIAL LIMB.

- APPLICATION FILED 0cT.21. I918.

1,343,297. Patented June 15, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

fm/enfor:

Oscar E 'Wormafl.

5y MW oscAaE. wont/inner IVIIENNEAIPQLIS, ivrrnlvnsorn.

ARTIFICIAL LIIVIB.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,OsoAR E; WoRMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing-at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Artificial Limbs, of which the following is a specification. 1

My invention relates to artificial limbs and more particularly to artificial members for use in cases of amputation above the knee, although some of the features may also be used in other cases.

An object of my inventionisfto provide an artificial member which will not only resemble the corresponding human member in appearance, but will function in a manner similar thereto, so that persons who have been crippled by the "loss of certain limbs knee joint. v

of the cam ad usting device used in the "form of invention shown 1n Flg. 2. Fig. 4: 1s a may have their usefulness restored, while at thesame time the handicap in appearance isv overcome. Another object is to provide an artificial limb which will be easy to manufacture and which will insure the greatest degree of comfort to the wearer.

The full objects and advantages of my invention will appear in'connection with the detailed description thereof and the novel features embodied in myinventive idea are particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which illustrate my invention embodied in an artificial limb intended for use particularly in cases of amputation above the knee, Figure 1 1s a side view of connected lower and upper leg members partly broken away,"

as shown respectively at X and Y. Fig. Sis a view of the knee joint showinga particular construction of tension device for the Fig. 3 is a view in perspective View in cross section showing a construction of joint which may be usedfor the shell members of artificial limbs. Fig. 5 a view in cross section showing another form of joint for the shell members. Fig. 6 is a detail view showing means for connecting suspenders with the thigh member. Fig.,j7 is a detail view showing modified means for connecting suspenders with the thigh member. Fig. 8 is a rear Viewv of a 'PI'QfQXIGfl construction of the shank member. -.Fi S) is a side view of the shank member shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a cross sectionalview of Specification of Letters Patent. 7 Patented Ju 5 Application filed October 21, 1918. Serial No. 258,964. l 1

the shank member. Fig; 11 is a sectional view showing an ankle joint construction;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view showing another form of ankle Joint construction.

Referring to the particular construction shown in thedrawings which illustrate the principles of my invention and which may be varied in-regard to-mechanical' details without departing from the spirit of the invention, 14 designates a shank member hav- 7 knee joint and in orderto form the attach- .ment thereto, the shank member is provided" on each side with knee joint straps20 which are attached preferably on the inside thereof by means of rivets, nails, screws or other suitable fasteners 22. In a manner similar to the constructiondisclosed in 'myco-pend ing a foot member 16f pivotally connected to ing application, filed on the same-date herebe' provided with projections or offsets to rest upon the top edge oftheishank member and said top edge may, ifxdesired, be'prowith, the knee joint straps may,if desired, v I

vided with .a notch or groove for receiving the projections'or offsets] The upperends r of the knee-joint straps are provided with a x cylinder or bushing 24 extending horizontally through] openings in the straps from one side to the other, with the intermediate portion connected to the thigh member in .such manner as to permit bending of the knee joint to any desired position similar to the action of the natural knee. -The connection with the thigh member is preferably madeby passing thecylinder 24 through an opening extending horizontally through a knee block 26 located at the lower end of the thigh member. The knee block gives form and shape to the knee portion ofthe artificial limb and maybe constructed of fiber,

' wood, leather, metal or any other substantial material or any combination thereof suitablefor shaping or molding into the form ofa knee. The knee block may be continuous,

with the thigh member and form an integral V part thereof, but is preferably constructed as a separate part whichissecured in the.

lower end of the thigh member in any suitable manner, as by rivets, nails, screws, or

' hesive material such as glue.

other suitable fasteners, or by means of ad- The hole through the knee block in which the cylinder 24 works may, if desired, be reinforced by a bushing of leather, fiber, metal, or other suitable material for the purpose of making the limb more durable and practical for wear. The cylinder 24 may be. supported or reinforced by a bar 28 attached to and ex tending from the shank andhaving its upper end surrounding the central portion of the cylinder. The bar 28 is made from 1 metal or other durable material and by its memb outfeffort of the wearer.

ber'is attached to the shank at such a point engagement with the knee block serves we check or stop iforstoppingtheshank when the latter swings into a vertical or the desired position in alinement withthe thigh The shank member in cases of amputation .abovethe knee may be thrown automatically forwardby means of .a spring, rubber, or other suitable elastic material so attached to the kneeblock andthe rear "of. the shank that when the knee is bent the elastic material will be stretched and the shank when free to move, will be=caused to swing back into its straight position with- The elastic membelow' the knee block as will permit of a gradual and increased. tension as the knee is bent either for a walking position or a sitting position of the wearer which makes it possible for the shank member to swing -readily and easily back into vertical position withlthe tension decreasing gradually until the shank comes to a dead center in its straight position. The principle involved in this construction is that when the limb stands in a vertical position, there is little or no tension on the elastic member, while the tension gradually-increases in proportion as the limb becomes bent for a walking or sitting position, the maximum tension being obtained when the limb is bent backward as'far as it will go. Upon releasing the foot fromthe ground the elastic member automatically brings the shank into a vertical POSltlOIlflVlllhfthQ shank and thigh members in ali'nement with each other. NO special eifortis required for starting the bending of the knee and the movement is easy and natural. A convenient'form of the device just described is illustrated in F 1 which shows an elastic strip 30 attached atits upper end to'the knee block by means ofa ring :or fastener 82. The

lower end: of the strip is attached-to an eye or fastener 34k mounted on a bar which is pivoted at one endto the rear of the shank at a suitable distance from" the top thereof, The other 'end of the bar 36' is provided with a screw threaded hole adapted to receive the screw threaded end of'a bolt 38 whichextends through the-shank with its head 40 on the outside thereof, the

parts being so provisioned that the screw. threads of the bolt cooperate with the screw threads in the bar. The head 4-0 is provided with a notch or angular portion by means of which'the bolt may be turned to adjust the tension of the elastic strip.

Referring to Fig. 2 which shows another construction of the elastic member, a coil spring 42 is attached-at its upper end to the knee block 26 andatits. lower end to :an eye 44: or fastener in the upper end of the bar 46 which is provided with a "slot 48 through which extend the bolts 50 which serve to attach the bar 46 slidably to the inside of the shank member.- The lower end of the sliding bar 46 is provided with a lug '52 which engages the periphery of a cam 54 secured to the inner end of a smooth bolt 56 which passes through an opening in the shank in frictional engagement therewith andhas a notched or angular head 58 by which the cam may be readily turned. The spring 42 holds the lug up into engagement with the cam, so that by turning .the latter the tension of the spring may be adjusted. In order to hold the cam 54 securely in its adjusted position,,the lug 152 has a leafspring 59 secured'thereto and the upper end ofthisspring is provided with a pro ection, or raised portion 61 adapted to engage in any one of a seriesof recesses or notches '63 with which the periphery of the cam is provided. The-cam may be readily turned for adjusting purposes, yet it will be held sufliciently by the meansjust described so as 'to prevent it from being jarred out-of its adjusted position.

The thigh member 18 may be constructed of fiber rubber, leather, or anyothersuitable material which can be shaped or molded for forming a socket to receive the stump of the wearer. Both the thigh member and the shank member are preferably formed as shells by shaping sheets of the proper material into the desiredv form and bringing the longitudinal edges together insuch manner as to form'an overlapping joint, Fig; 4 shows the joint formed by overlapping the longitudinal edges, the

outer portions of which arebeve'led at 60 so' as to form-a smooth surface both inside inforced by a strip '66 of substantial mate rial fastened to the inside by rivets,nails,

shank member, one'portion thereof maybe constructed with the oifsetjoint shown in screws or by glueing. In the-case of the V Fig. while the other portion may be con structed with the overlapping joint shown in Fig. 4. Since the reinforcing strips 62 and 66 have a breakingcharacteristic which-is different from that of the shell, the limb is greatly strengthened and liability of the bolts 38 and 56 tearing loose from the fiber shell is avoided. The thigh member ispreferably lined with leatheror other suitable material, or, if desired, may be padded with felt or other suitable material for the purpose of shaping the socket and making it waist of the wearer or by being fastened to the thigh member of the limb, the attachment to the respective parts being such that when the knee is bent, the shank can be either pulled into the position voluntarily by the wearer or is brought int position by means of an elastic member having its upper end fastened to the parts mentioned,

the lower end being fastened preferablyby' means of a strip ofleather, fabric or other suitable'material which has its lower end secured to the shank member by rivets, screws, buttons or other suitable fasteners.

-The thigh member which contains the stump of the wearer may be held up to the body by means of a pair of suspenders consisting of leather, textile or elastic material or any other suitable material or combination thereof going up over the shoulder and having thelower portions secured in suitable manner to the thigh member. As shown in Fig. 1, the rear lower-.portions70 and 72,

of the suspenders are attached to the upper back partof the thigh member andthetwo front lower portions are attached to the upper front part of the thigh member in suitable manner as by means of buckles 74 and 7 6 provided at said part of the thigh member. Theseattachments are made in such manner as will best serve the purpose of securely holding the limb to the body in the right position. As shown in Fig. 6*which illustrates the front upper portion of the right thigh member, the suspenders con structed of the material previously described may have their=lower ends attached to a cord, such as the cord 80, consisting of leather, rubber, textile material or any other suitable material or combination thereof and so positioned that any tension or drawing caused by a bending or sitting position of the wearer is equalized by the .cord working back and forth through pulleys and loops or" any suitable combination thereof. As shown particularly inthisfigure, the

thigh is provided withtwo buttons or other fasteners 78 located at each side of the front upper portion, there also being two buttons similarly located at each side of the rear upper portion.

The. cord 80 passes un der 'a I pulley mounted in a bracket 82 secured to the outer or right portion of the thigh memben' The front portion' ofthe cord'passes through a loop 81 ,attached'to'the thigh "member adjacent the pulley. and the free end of the 'c'ordis provided with an-eye 84. or other suitable memberhaving an opening adapted to be placed over the front inner button 78. Therear portion of the cord passes in the same manner from; the pulley through a loop corresponding. to the loop 81 and has its free end fastened over a; rear inner button or other fastener corresponding to the front button previously referred to.

The

.four lower ends 86 ofthe suspenders are 7 preferably providedwith holes 88 and are connected to the cord 80'by means of curved members .90 over which thefcord is adapted to slide.- The two front lower ends86 may be connected to the main portion of the suspenders icy means of buckles-92. On ac count of the provision of fourof the buttons'or fasteners '78, it is obvious that when desired, the four suspender endsmay be attached direct by means of the holes '88 to thefour buttons or fasteners 7 This may be readlly done. in case of the breaking or pulllng apart of any of the members whichserve to connect the lower ends 86 tO the thigh member. -When;the attachment is made in this manner, it closely resembles theattachment shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 shows another manner of connect ing the suspenderstothe thigh member. As shown, this member. isprovided with two buttons 78 at its front upper portion. The 1 cord 80 is provided at its forward end with an-eye 84 adapted .to be placed over-the inner button 78. The cord then passes through a loop J94 secured to the top of: the thigh member and the loop 96 secured lower down atthe outer side of the thigh member and then'after'passing through a loop on the rear of the thigh member correspondingto the loop 94, has its free end attached to a loop or other securing-device98onthe rear inner side of the thigh member. The loop 9 1 may be secured by means of one of thebuttons 78. sothat the latter mayhave the double I function of securing said loop 7 f and also serving as an attachmentfor the I suspenders when they-are attached directly to the buttons'78. A pair of suspenders 100 have their lower front ends provided with a series of openings 102 adapted to be engaged by buckles l0'which are attached to the two ends of a loop member 106 through which the front portion ofthe cord 80 passes. ers are united'to form a loop'10 8 through which the rear portion of the cord 80 passes. In case this cord should break the front ends of the suspenders may beattached to the two buttons 7 8 by means of openings therein while the rear portion of the suspenders may be tied to a loop 110 secured to the rear upper portion of the thigh member. In this manner atemporary attachment of the suspenders to the thighmay be made Without the provision of the buttons on the rear of the thighmember where theywould be objectionable, particularly. when the wearer is seated." The'construction shown in Figs. 8, 9, and 10 provides a desirable arrangement of joint for the shank member. The two overlapping edgesof the joint are broadened out toward the lower reduced portion of the shank to form the portions 112 and 114 so that substantially the rear one-half of the shank at the lower end is of double thickness. The material from which the shankmember is formed may be conveniently shaped to form this joint when the shellmember-is being formed/If desired a 7 metal reinforcing strip 116 corresponding to the overlapped portionof the shell may be secured on the inside in any suitable ;man-

ner. This joint provides a verystrong construction at the placegwhere the .shankis most liable to break. The joint may be secured together by a double row of rivets or 7 other fasteners. 118 extending the full length of the shank and an extra row of --.rivets or other fasteners 120 at each side where the v overlapping edgesbroaden out.

Fig. 11 shows a :desirable form of ankle joint construction. Tothe cylinder member of joint 17 are secured a pair of bolts 122 which extend up through the block 124 secured inthe lower end of .the shank member and the upper ends of these bolts are-pro vided with nuts 126 which :may be locked by a spring member secured between them..

T he trunnion member which turns in the cylindrlcal memberis provided with a single bolt 128 which extendsv down through the foot member 16 and has anut 130' screwed on the lower end thereof. The lower side of the foot member s provided with a recess which receives a plate 132 of metal or other durable material through which extend the bolt 128 and two other bolts 134 and 136 provided with nuts 138 and 140 respectively which in connection with the nut on the end of' the bolt128 may be locked by one or more spring members 142. The rear bolt 136 has ahooked upper end to which is attached a cord 144 the upper end of which is secured to a .bolt 146. The front bolt 134 has a hooked upper end to which is attached spring 148, the upper end of which is attached to the bolt 146. 1 The upper side of The lower-rear .ends "of the suspend,

the foot member may "be provided with. a

buffer 150toengage'the block 124. Fig.

12 shows a construction of angle joint which does not have a block in the lower end of. the shank member. .The fixed member of the 'anklefjoint is secured to metalstrips .152 on the inside of- :the shank member and the rotatable member --of the nut-.154, maybe locked by one: or more spring members 164. To the upper .end of the rear bolt 158 is attached a cord 168,-the

upper end of which is attachednto the bolt 170. To the. upper end oiflthe front bolt 156 is attached an :elastic -member 172 the upper end of which is attached to the bolt 170; The intermediate portion of the I bolt 170 maybe provided with an enlargement17 1. to keep the members 168 and 172 from sliding out of position. The front lower portion of the shank is'provided with a plate'174-ofmetal or other durable imaterial secured thereto. The lower end of this plate is provided with a lug or projection 17 6 with which the buffer 178 on the top of the foot'member or the foot-member itself may engage when the front portion of the foot member swings upwardly.

. I claim: r V

V 1. Anartificial limb comprising a shank member and a thigh member pivoted together to-form aknee'joint, an elastic member attached. at its upper end to the knee oint portion of the thigh member and attached at'its lower end to the rear portion of the shank member below the top thereof, and means operable fro'moutside said shank member for adjusting the tension ofosaid elastic member. 1 y w y 7 2. .An artificial limb'comprising a shank member and a thigh member pivoted together to form a'kn'ee joint, an'elastic member attached'at its upper end to the knee joint portion of the thigh member, a bar.

movably mounted within the rear portion of :the shank member, the lower end of said elastic 'member being attached to said bar,and means for holding said bar in different positions whereby the tension of said l elastic member may be varied.

3. An artificial limb comprising a shank member and a thigh member pivoted together to form a knee joint, an elastic member attached at its.upper end to the knee joint portion of the thigh member, a bar slidably mounted within the rear portion of the shank member,-the lower end of said elastic member being attached to said bar and a cam engaging a lug on said bar and rotatably mounted upon the shank member whereby the tension of said elastic member may be varied.

4. An artificial limb comprising a shank member and a thigh member pivoted together to form a knee joint, a coil spring attached at its upper'end to a knee block in the lower end of said thigh member, a bar slidably mounted within'the rear portion of said shank member,'the lower end of said 7 spring being attached to said bar, a cam engaging a lug on said bar and rotatably mounted upon the shank member, and means whereby said cam may be turned from the outside of the shank member to vary the tension of said spring.

5. An artificial'limb comprising a hollow shell formed from a sheet of fiber, the longether to form a knee joint, a pair of sus-,

penders for holding thethigh member to the wearer, a cord to which the lower ends of said suspenders are slidably attached, a guide on the outer side of said thigh member under which the intermediate portion of said cord passes, loops attached to said thigh member adjacent said guide and through which the respective front and rear portions of said cord pass, and fasteners on the front and rear inner portions of said thigh member to which the respective free ends of said-cord are attached.

7. An artificial limb comprising a shank member and a thigh member pivoted together to form a knee joint, a pair of suspenders for holding the thigh member to the wearer, a cord'to which the lower ends of said suspenders are slidably attached, a guide on the outer side of said thigh member under which the intermediate portion of said cord passes, loops attached to said thigh member adjacent said guide and through which the respective front and rear portions of said cord pass, fasteners on the front portion of said thigh member, a free end of said cord being attached to one of said fasteners, the lower front ends of said suspenders being provided with holes'adapted to be engaged over said fasteners when desired, afastener on the rear portion of said thigh member to which the other free end of said cord is attached, and a loop on the rear portion of said thigh member to which the lower rear, ends of said suspenders may be secured when desired.

8. An artificial limb comprising a shank member and a thigh member pivoted together to form a knee joint, anelastic member attached at its upper end to the knee joint portion of the thigh member, a bar slidably mounted within the rear portion of the shank I 1 member, the lower end of said elastic member being attached to said bar, a cam engaging a lug onthe lower end of said bar and rotatably mounted upon the shank member whereby the tension of said elastic member may be varied, said cam having a plurality of spaced peripheral recesses and a spring attached to said lug and provided with a projection adapted to engage with any one of said recesses.

9. An artificial limb comprising a hollow shank member having overlapping edges at the rear thereof, said edges being broadened out at the lower reduced portion of said shank member to form substantially the rearv half at the lower end thereof of double thickness, and means for securing said edges together.

10. An artificial limb comprising a hollow shank member having overlapping edges at the rear thereof, said edges being broadened out at the lower reduced portion of said shank member to form substantially the rear half at the lower end thereof of double thickness, a reinforcing strip on the inside of said shank member having a width sub stantially the same as the overlapped portion of said shank member and means for securing said edges and said strip together.

11. An artificial limb comprising a hollow shank member, a plate of durable material secured within the lower front portion of said shank member, a lug on the lower end of said plate and a foot member pivoted to said shank member and adapted to engage said lug.

12. An artificial limb comprising a thigh member, a pair of suspenders for holding said member to the wearer, and connections between said thighmember and suspenders for adjusting movement of the latter whereby movement of said connections is controlled entirely at the outer side of said thigh member;

13. An artificial limb comprising a thigh OSCAR E. WORMAN. 

